Service Schedule

Good question. I also would also like to ask if the Prius does 3000 or 5000 mile oil change intervals.

 

Thanks for the info. Now I've got to decide whether pre-paid maintenance is worth it.

For the 55,000 mile term of the PPM plan, the maintenance is oil changes, tire rotations, inspections, and a few filter replacements. I'll have to check a few local shops, but I'd bet they can do this, on average, for roughly $50 to $60 per tune-up.

At $550-$660 total, that's quite a bit cheaper that a Toyota PPM plan, even at a negotiated rate of, let's say, $900.

I would appreciate your thoughts on the issue.

Also, who is planning to buy the extended warranty?

 

I don't know about the 2010 in particular (hopefully someone else can comment on this), but for the current generation (i.e. 2004-2009), most of us have done the math and discovered the same thing that you have: that the "prepaid maintenance" is a ripoff. Of course, dealers may try to sell it to you by comparing the price that you'd pay for their (highly inflated) services to what the PPD plan costs. However, if you just follow the Toyota book that comes with the car, you end up paying *way* less than the cost of any of the PPD plans (even at the low-ish price offered through PriusChat).

The extended warranty is another matter, as far as I'm concerned. I think that there's legitimate debate about whether it's "worth it." I mean, clearly Toyota is going to come out ahead on average (otherwise they wouldn't sell it), but it's a type of insurance for people who are risk-averse. I'd certainly think about it extra-hard with the 2010, since it's a new design that may have some teething issues. However, you don't need to decide on whether you want the extended warranty until the standard warranty is up (assuming Toyota isn't making any drastic changes in their policy for the new model year). So, you have 3 years/36K miles to decide.

 

I would never take my car into a Stealership for an oil change. It is so simple on this car that I do them myself.

 

I take my 08 to the dealer and all my other cars somewhere else (or do it myself). It has been mentioned before but thought it worth mentioning again. If you do the maintenance at the dealer they then have a record and can't claim the warranty is void because the proper schedule wasn't followed. I know you can keep the receipts but I am really bad at keeping receipts and just my luck the engine would have a problem.

 

We recently had a claim. I did the oil changes myself and they didn't even want to see my records, I didn't keep receipts for the oil and filters. They even thought the there was oil starvation evidence in the engine. Either way, Toyota replaced the short block under warranty. I will never take any vehicle I own to a Stealership for an oil change just so they have a record of the service. I have had to many bad service experiences to let one touch my vehicles again. They have scratched the paint and interior, caused dents, forgot to replace bolts/screws. One even forgot to tighten the oil filter. Thank goodness I checked it when we got home and saw the oil leaking out. We were even going on a long trip with the car the next day that would have been met with a blown engine while driving, due to no oil in the engine. So me and Stealership service departments don't go well together.

 

Is there a service schedule to replace a timing belt? Or a water pump?

 

Absolutely! Anyone with a modicum of mechanical aptitude can save themselves beaucoup bucks by doing the simple oil changes themselves. It can be a little messy, and then you have to responsibly dispose of the used oil, but with proper preparation, it is straightforward enough.

The tire/wheel rotation is a little more heavy-duty work, and really requires the use of a hydraulic jack and jack stands. In addition a well calibrated torque-wrench, to ensure the wheel-nuts are set to their correct torque values, is important.

OK, maybe there are many people that would find all of this way too intimidating, but not the reasonably equipped and competent D-I-Y individual.

That said, for instance, I know my wife couldn't handle it. Maybe that's why she married someone who could!

 

I have been going to the dealer for oil changes. It costs $34, but I figure this is more convenient, and they do a safety check. However, lately they have been recommended interesting service:

1. replace serpentine belt, it is cracked. I didn't see any cracks, and this was n ot mentioned by other mechanics.
2. check / inspect valves. This involves removing part of the engine.
3. fluch transaxle coolant.

Actually, I have to double check on the last two recommendations (based on 'mileage'), as this was when I brought the car in to have the MFD evaluated. It turns out mine is bad, but they will replace it under the extended warranty.

 

Resurrecting an old thread to ask a question that doesn't seem to get answered anywhere: what is the mysterious "15,000 mile special service"? Rick's reply above looks pretty comprehensive and realistic, pretty much what I expected. At the dealership Friday when I was placing my order for a II, talking with the various people, I learn of this "15,000 mile special service" but no mention of WHAT it is. And no one here seems to know WHAT it is, and your detailed reply above makes no mention of it either, which makes me think that this "special service" is not real. Anyone know for certain?

 

Seriously? No one can answer what this 15,000 mile service is? One of the reasons I'm getting out of my Honda Ridgeline is because of too many repetitive, expensive services that I don't think most modern cars should need. I'd really like to hear that this service is something thought up by the dealers to squeeze some extra money out of us and not something actually required by Toyota to keep our warranties. 15,000 miles to me means approximately every 8-9 months I'm going to be paying (according to the guy at the dealer) $3-400. I'm seeing the benefits of the Prius sliding downhill when I hear that.

 

You might have to give it more than a couple of hours on a busy holiday weekend. Or you could ask your dealer to explain.

Personally I have no idea what you are referring to, but I can check my service schedule next time I make it out to my car...

 

No need. I'm bored, so I went out and got mine. Here's what's listed on the 15K.

• clean cabin air filter (except solar powered ventilation system)
• replace engine oil and filter (and reset MAINT REQD message on the MID)
• rotate tires
• visually inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs
• inspect the following:
  • ball joints and dust covers
  • brake lines and hoses
  • drive shaft boots
  • engine/inverter coolant
  • exhaust pipes and mountings
  • radiator, condenser and/or intercooler
  • steering gear box
  • steering linkage and boots

The stuff under "inspect the following" seems to be different than the 5K or 10K. There is a footnote for the engine/inverter coolant. It says:

None of that seems "special" to me, but it is different. Told you I was bored.